How to Format an Essay: Different Styles and Examples

Proper essay formatting makes your work look professional, but beyond that, it also makes it easier to read and grade. Follow these steps if you want to be sure your essay meets all the formatting guidelines:

• Choose the right font
• Set proper margins
• Adjust line spacing
• Use proper alignment
• Include page numbers
• Structure your essay properly
• Follow citation style requirements
• Indent paragraphs
• Check your reference page

This article will break down everything you need to know about how to format an essay so that your academic paper looks polished. 

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What is Essay Format?

The essay format is a specific way your paper should be structured. It follows strict guidelines regarding everything about how your paper should be presented, from the font and margins to page numbers. A well-formatted paper:

• Improves readability
• Shows you're paying attention to details
• Prevents you from losing points
• Helps instructors or graders easily find their way around your essay
• Makes citation management easier

However, before you get to formatting, it always helps to approach the assignment with a well-thought-out plan. Learn how to make an outline for an essay, choose the right format style, and then get to work!

General Essay Formatting Guidelines

Before we get to the actual examples of how your paper should be formatted, let's get through the ABCs of how to format an essay right. Unless your instructor gave you specific requirements, these are the general guidelines that apply to most pieces of academic writing:

Essay Format Structure

It doesn't matter what kind of academic paper you're writing or what topic you've chosen; essay formats exist to help your arguments flow naturally from one section to another so that the reader doesn't struggle to follow your ideas.

MLA Formatting Guidelines

The MLA format is commonly employed in humanities, setting it apart from other academic writing styles. When tackling an essay in MLA format, it's crucial to follow a set of clear guidelines:

Essay in MLA Format Example

Take a look at an essay example structured according to the MLA (Modern Language Association) format below:

The Impact of Technology on Modern Society

The Impact of Technology on Modern Society

APA Formatting Guidelines

Familiarizing yourself with the APA format is essential, as it is commonly used in college essays. The basic APA format includes guidelines similar to those of other essay formats:

Essay in APA Format Example

It's easier to understand specific formatting styles when you actually see the guidelines in action. Check out the APA-style essay example here:

The Impact of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships

The Impact of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships

APA vs. MLA

Don't be surprised if you get a little lost between APA and MLA guidelines, it can be a bit confusing until you get used to it. Here are the main differences between the two most common formatting styles:

• Purpose: APA (American Psychological Association) is used in social sciences, whereas MLA is usually for humanities and literature-related subjects.
• Title Page: APA requires a separate title page with the paper's title, author's name, institutional affiliation, course name, instructor's name, and date. The MLA style, on the other hand, does not. Instead, the student's information is placed in the upper left corner of the first page.
• Header & Page Numbers: APA includes a header with a shortened title (under 50 characters) in all caps on the left and the page number on the right. The MLA style requires the student’s last name and page number in the upper right corner of every page.
• In-text Citations: APA uses the author's last name, publication year, and page number (if applicable): (Fridmann, 2020, p. 45). MLA only includes the author’s last name and page number: (Fridmann, 45).
• Reference Page: APA calls it a "References" page and formats citations with the author’s last name followed by initials: Wimberly, A. (2020). Title of the book. MLA style calls it a "Works Cited" page and lists authors in full: Wimberly, Andrew. Title of the Book.
• Headings & Subheadings: APA structures the heading system with bolded, title case headings for different sections (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results). While you don't need to use specific headings according to the MLA style, they should be left-aligned and unbolded if used.
• Font & Spacing: Both APA and MLA require 12pt Times New Roman and double-spacing throughout the paper.‍
• Indentation: Both styles use a ½-inch indentation for paragraph beginnings. However, APA requires a hanging indent for reference entries, while MLA requires it for works cited.

Chicago Formatting Guidelines

Chicago format is a common way of writing in academics, especially when it comes to giving credit to your sources. This means being careful about citing your references and using footnotes. These details are vital for a good essay because they show where your information comes from and make your work more trustworthy.

In Chicago, using footnotes or endnotes is a special part of the writing. These notes give extra information or references, making your essay more informative.

Using the Chicago format might seem a bit detailed, but it shows that you take your study seriously. Whether you're a student or a researcher, getting the hang of this format makes your piece more accurate and respected in academic circles.

Chicago Essay Format Example

Here's an example essay according to the Chicago style format:

The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Balancing Progress and Responsibility

The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Balancing Progress and Responsibility

Other Essay Formatting Styles

APA, MLA, and Chicago aren't the only formatting styles out there. You need to follow different systems when you're writing papers in medicine, engineering, or chemistry. Sounds like a headache? It might, but it's quite easy once you get the hang of it.

AMA

If you're learning how to write an academic essay in the medical field, you need to use the AMA (American Medical Association) style:

• Font & Spacing: Use 12pt Times New Roman with double spacing and one-inch margins. Keep it clean and simple.
• Title Page: Required! Includes the title, author’s name, institution, and word count.
• In-text Citations: Uses superscript numbers for references, placed after punctuation. Example: This treatment has proven effective¹.
• Reference List: Sources are listed in numerical order, based on how they appear in the paper, not in alphabetical order:
  1. Bryar J, Bowery K, Scheffer A. Title of the Book. Publisher; Year.‍
• Sections: Papers typically follow a structured format: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.

IEEE

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) format is what you'll need when writing a paper in engineering, computer science, and technology. Compared to other formatting styles, IEEE is more technical and heavier on numbered references.

• Font & Spacing: 10pt Times New Roman, single-spaced, with extra space between paragraphs.
• Title Page: Includes the title, author names, affiliations, and date.
• In-text Citations: Uses numbered brackets for citations. Example: This algorithm improves efficiency [3].
• Reference List: References are numbered in the order they appear. Example:
  [3] K Hann, “Title of Paper,” Journal Name, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 45-56, 2023.‍
• Sections: Follows a logical structure: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion, and References.

ACS

You should learn ACS (American Chemical Society) formatting if chemistry is your thing:

• Font & Spacing: 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced, with standard one-inch margins.
• Title Page: Required for most research papers! It includes the title, author(s), and institutional affiliation. Some journals may also ask for an abstract.
• In-text Citations: ACS gives you three citation options: superscript numbers, parenthetical citations (author-date), or italicized numbers in brackets.
• Reference List: Lists references in numerical order, not alphabetically. Example:
  1. Wyatt, J.; Bell, K. Title of Book; Publisher: City, Year.‍
• Sections: Standard structure includes Abstract, Introduction, Experimental, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.

The Manual of Scientific Style

Any serious scientific research follows The Manual of Scientific Style, one of the most detailed formatting systems out there:

• Font & Spacing: 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced, with strict formatting for equations, tables, and figures.
• Title Page: Includes the title, author(s), institution, and a running header. Depending on the field, abstracts may also be included.
• In-text Citations: Different disciplines use different styles, but most follow either numbered references or author-date citations.
• Reference List: Follows field-specific guidelines. Example:
  Bailey, T. (2023). Title of Research. Scientific Publisher.‍
• Sections: Almost always follows Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References. Some papers require an Appendix for supplemental data.

Parting Words

Content and proper formatting are equally important when it comes to creating an essay. You definitely don't want to lose points because you're not sure how to format your essay, so keep these general formatting rules in mind:

• Font Matters
• Double-Spacing (Almost) Always
• Margins Need to Be Right
• Page Numbers Are a Must
• Headings and Titles Have Rules
• Indentation Should Be Consistent
• Citations Matter

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